I am pleased to be in the saddle againas the candidate for the new 10thCounty Legislative District, with theConservative and Independence ballot lines.

Minority lawsuits notwithstanding.We are all Americans. Time to stopdividing and time to unite in ourcommon quest for survival in aworld gone mad.

Independent Conservative is adescription that suits me well.

There is an old saying in politics relating to candidates: "before they tell you whatthey will do, ask them what theyhave done."

Looking back on the past 41 years, I have served as a Town andCity Chairman, a county committeemancoordinated many local campaigns at thenational, state and local levels. And, I havebeen a candidate in many elections forCongress, NYS Senate and Assemblytown, city and county offices.

Why? Our lives are shaped by politics, likeit or not. So, why stand by on the sidelinesand wring your hands while others decideour fates? Join the fray and shape thecourse of events!

Why haven't I been elected? Because Ido not play the game - raising largeamounts of money, becoming a whollyowned subsidiary of special interestgroups. Taking clear, perhaps, notpolitically correct or safe positionsregarding issues vital to our survival.Trying to appeal to the intellect ofvoters, rather than relying on draggingthem to the polls, to cast partylinevotes.

Well, just, maybe, my time has come.

Now, before I tell you what I will do , letme tell you what I have done, particularlyin the past quarter century as Leaderof the Buckingham Pond CrestwoodNeighborhood Association" and as acandidate for various public offices:

1. Creation of Buckingham Pond Park through rezoning the pond and shore area as LC Land Conservation or park land (1994)

2. Blocked building luxury housing at Albany Muni Golf Course, preserving the view of the Catskill Three Sisters Mountains; creating the Hartman Rd Community Garden, as a result of rezoning both LC (Land Conservation or park land) (1994)

The above, were major actions which Iadvocated in my 1993 campaign for 8thWard Albany City Alderman.

4. Blocked two attempts to site a 3rd city middle school at Whitehall and New Scotland or the 10 acres bordered by Hemlock/Tea Cup Lanes and Crescent Dr. (2000 )

At that time, I ran for NYS Senate, takingthe above major position stands.

5. Advocated County clean up of the toxic 3/4 acre abandoned gas station site New Scotland Ave at Whitehall Rd razing the derelict building, blocking several attempts to rezone the parcel commercial, and designating the 3/4 acre parcel as a pocket park. (1994- 2011)

Advocated it to be the Dan O'Connell Memorial Pocket Park. Dan lived down Whitehall Rd. This would be a fitting tribute to Dan.

So far, for some reason, city officials have resisted this. But, maybe this year my proposal will become a reality.

6. Restored Crestwood Plaza as a neighborhood retail shopping plaza and breaking the crime ring that was preying upon elderly shoppers at the Crestwood Market. (1993-2002)

7. Set aside the acre open space and planted of the evergreen tree screen Buckingham Mews, corner of New Scotland and Krum Kill. (1985)

8. Planted the conifer tree screen along the back property lines between single family homes on Buckingham Dr and the Buckingham Mews extension. (2008)

9. Set aside the green space at New Scotland and S. Manning, (1985)

10. Blocked conversion of the single family residence, NW corner of New Scotland and S, Manning, into a half way treatment facility affiliated with St Peter's Hospital. (1993)

11. Blocked conversion of Mercy Convent into office space. (1995)

12. Blocked a plan to provide egress from the expanded parking at the CP Center via Pine Tree Lane, Marsdale Sts. and Hurst Ave at Westford St. (1989)

This would have destroyed the residential integrity of the adjacent Briar, Oliver and Aspen Circle neighborhood, as well as the residential neighborhood of adjacent Slingerlands.

I note that the current incumbent county legislator, initially promoted this development, but later relented.

14. Had many trees planted along roadsides and on front lawns. For example, the Red Oaks, Maples and Little Leaf Linden trees along New Scotland Ave and Buckingham Dr. as well as many other neighborhood streets.

Now, of course I did not do all these thingsalone. I provided the leadership, galvanizedand had public support as well as gainingthe cooperation of city and county public officials.

Now- what will I do as your representativeon the county legislature, 10th District?

1. Advocate complete review and overhaul of social services programs, with the aim of reducing waste and fraud, and weaning able bodied lifers off the public dole.

A growing dependent population is not sustainable in hard economic times.

2. Advocate consolidating Albany city schools with the city government creating one property tax roll to support both, returning to K-8 neighborhood schools and making the Mayor and Common Council responsible/accountable for the operation/ performance of city schools.

The city school curriculum needs to be revised to meet the needs of an urban student population and prepare them to be productive citizens.

More spending on education is not the answer to school problems.

A 50 percent drop out rate and disorderly conduct are not to be tolerated.

Read earlier posts on learning and education on this website and on Lonerangeralbany.

3. Albany City and County needs more and less expensive electricity to promote job growth and gain relief from high utility bills for homeowners, tenants and businesses.

This can be achieved by tapping into the electric power transmission line that will bring Quebec hydropower to New York City via the Hudson Valley.

4. Instead of sponsoring more new laws and regulations, I will seek to repeal those laws and regulations that burden people and stifle economic development.

5. I will continue to work to preserve the residential integrity of the neighborhoods of the 10th District: Buckingham Pond Crestwood and Slingerlands.

6. I advocate retaining and expanding the Number 4 bus route to the PC Plaza in Slingerlands, to better serve the people of this city neighborhood and that portion of the 10th District in Slingerlands, bordered by Krum Kill and Blessing Rds.

Read Bus This and More Bus This posts this website.

7. Reduce and implement alternatives to the destructive practice of dumping road salt on city streets and county roads.

This annual assault with salt rusts our expensive vehicles, is responsible for polluting groundwater and air, the deteroriation of roads, bridges, gas water and sewer lines, and poses a health risk to people.

8. I support the U S Constitution, particularly the First, Second and Tenth Amendments.

9. Security is the priority issue locally, state wide and nationally. Without security our economy and way of life are at risk.

10. I have long advocated shutting down and securing the Indian Point nuclear plants. Contrary to claims that nuclear power is clean and safe, it is not. Spent fuel rods are stored under these plants just as was done in Japan. We have no place to put nuclear wastes and those wastes remain a hazard for a long, long time.

From a security standpoint, the Indian Point plants put tens of millions of people at risk for an unbelievable disaster.

This is particularly so, in light of the federal governments failure to secure our national borders and ports; as well as New York State, and political subdivisions, therein, embracing a policy of sanctuary status for the millions of illegal aliens who have invaded our nation, state and local communities, including a significant number of foreign terrorists who are sworn to destroy us.

Many of those who come here legally as well as illegally, share in this goal. As a result, immigrants from certain places and cultures, and their native born offsprings pose a further security threat. Immigration policies need to be revised accordingly.

11. I advocate ending the sanctuary policy in Albany County, and the political subdivisions thereof. I oppose amnesty for illegals.

12. I will continue to advocate that individuals, households, churches synagogues, schools ,businesses, and health care providers in the 10th District prepare to survive any disasters, natural or man made, that may befall us in the days ahead.

13. I will do all that I can to promote informed citizen participation in our political process at the local, state and national levels.

We live in perilous times. Government can't save us ..... we must save ourselves and the government!

If you want a truly independent, conservativecandidate to represent you...and you want termlimits... I am your man.

Consult the posts and archives of this websiteand Lonerangeralbany for much more.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Note that this proposal calls forelimination of the current Number 4 bus route connecting the Buckingham Pond neighborhood with mid and downtown Albany. This route now terminates at Ohav Shalom Seniorapartments.

I have advocated keeping the Number 4 busroute and expanding it to the Price ChopperPlaza in Slingerlands.

This would allow residents of the KrumKill -Blessing Rd area of Slingerlands toaccess mid and downtown Albany as well asthe PC Plaza, as well as providing access forBuckingham Pond area residents to access the Price Chopper Plaza in Slingerlands.

I have further recommended that the PC Plaza in Slingerlands become a transfer point for the Numbers 4, 13, 18 and 19 busroutes.

If residents of the Blessing-Krum Kill Rdand Buckingham Pond neighborhoods, aswell as riders from the Town of Bethlehemand Voorheesville, find my proposal has merit, please indicate their support by clicking on the CDTA on line input line and saying so.